Tag Archives: Who are you traveling with.

Mindset Matters??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #261

18 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by in Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Dare To Be Different!, Mindset on Jesus!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth is True, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word

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Mindset Matters???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #261

“But Daniel

purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

 nor with the wine which he drank:

therefore he requested

of the prince of the eunuchs

that he might not defile himself.”  Daniel 1:8

Our mindset matters, because as a quote from Mahatma Ghandi (among others who made similar statements, he seems to have been one of the first) says:

“Watch your thoughts,

they become words;

watch your words,

they become actions;

watch your actions,

they become habits;

watch your habits,

they become character;

watch your character,

for it becomes your destiny.”

Daniel had made up his mind because his heart was purposed on God’s Word and His ways!  Yet, Daniel and his friends were never arrogant or demanding, they had respect and worked through the powers that were over them.  And they could do that because ultimately their confidence was in their God—chapter three confirms this as Daniel’s three friends face the fiery furnace.  For you see, they had made their mind up long before this incident—in verse 8 of chapter 1!

“Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear

the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery,

and dulcimer,

and all kinds of musick,

ye fall down and worship the image

which I have made; well:

but if ye worship not,

ye shall be cast the same hour

 into the midst of a burning fiery furnace;

and who is that God

that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered

and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God

whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us out of thine hand,

O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury,

and the form of his visage was changed

against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:

therefore he spake,

and commanded that they should heat the furnace

one seven times more

than it was wont to be heated.” Daniel 3:15-19

The result of their faithful commitment to their God was not only miraculous but gave glory to their God!  Yet the glory only came when they were willing to trust their God to bring them through the fire, or out of it on the other side!  What are you trusting God with?  Or are you trying to do everything yourself?  Even this furious king saw what their God could do, when they were delivered “in the fire”!

“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said,

Blessed be the God

of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

who hath sent his angel,

and delivered his servants

that trusted in him,

and have changed the king’s word,

and yielded their bodies,

that they might not

serve

nor worship

any god,

except their own God.” Daniel 3:28

What are you worshipping?  Where are your time, energies and devotion going?  What does your speech and actions reveal about you and your “god”?

Paul had some very wise counsel for us, and I find it worthy of continual consideration.  May it speak to us today and may each of us draw nearer to our God rather than this world.  May we consider the things that Paul reminds us of and choose wisely in our daily walk.  May we be found to be devoted to the God we claim to love and serve?

“Wherefore putting away lying,

speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not:

let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands the thing which is good,

that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

 but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all

bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:” Ephesians 4:25-31

Oh, that our speech and behavior would reflect the power of God that saves and keeps us!  This flesh is a constant pull against the things of God, we must be like Daniel and make up our mind and our heart to “not defile” ourselves!  Others may throw mud, but we must remain faithful to our God who is ever working to make us into the “image of His Son”!  (See Romans 8:28-29)

May we be faithful testaments of the transforming grace and salvation that Jesus bought with His own blood!  That we would spread holiness, joy and peace not corruption!

“Be not deceived:

evil communications

corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness,

and sin not;” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34a

Let’s follow Daniel’s and his friend’s example and keep a holy mindset rather than a worldly one!  It shows!  It matters!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

How’s Your Time??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #196

11 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Judgment Is Coming, Listening To God, Living by Faith or Entertainment?, Living TODAY!, Look UP, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, Time, Time Is Grace!, TODAY, True Knowledge, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, What are you doing with your TIME?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Who's Listening?, Who's Your Father?, Whom are you trusting?

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How’s Your Time??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #196

I have a few simple questions for us to ponder this evening, and I pray that we will give due consideration to the voice of The Savior.  How often do we make wrong choices because we aren’t tuned in to Jesus through His precious Holy Spirit that He has given to us.  I just pray that we will give heed to what He speaks to our heart as we consider this message.

What if Jesus had no more time for me than I have for Him from day to day?

What if God paid by the hour; what would my spiritual paycheck look like?

What if you’re too busy, when Jesus calls, to hear His voice?  Is His Holy Spirit dwelling within you?

Those are the questions, now I want to simply cover some passages of scripture that I pray will help each of us to examine ourselves with integrity and honesty, asking God to open our eyes to see what He sees, for it is seeking God, not ourselves that conforms us into the “image of His Son”!  (See Romans 8:28-29, Galatians 5:16 & 25, and Hebrews 12:1-3))

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.”  Romans 8:8-10

Peter reminds us that Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation—beyond that, He didn’t have to die—He didn’t even have to take on flesh, but He did; He took on flesh to pay for my sin and yours at Calvary and rose to give us life. What are you/I doing for Him?  So often not even heeding His voice or obeying His direction.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope

might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls

in obeying the truth

through the Spirit

unto unfeigned love of the brethren,

see that ye love one another

with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again,

not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible,

by the word of God,

which liveth and abideth for ever…

…2:20 For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins in his own body on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  Portions of 1 Peter 1:18-2:25

Jesus not only gave His life for us, but He gave us His precious Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth; not only The Truth of His Word, but I believe the ability to discern and understand what He would have us do in all our ways.  (Like a fulfillment of Proverbs 3:5-8!)

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

Whose wisdom are you walking in?  Whose path are you following?  Whom are you trusting?  God or your/my own flesh?  It’s so easy to get caught up in the world’s ideas of right and wrong, and miss the truths that Jesus calls us to, when we trust in our own wisdom and understanding-or the latest ideas and books.

But the big issue is missing Jesus completely because we missed the voice of His Spirit speaking to our hearts.  And if you or I miss Jesus completely, we will suffer the consequence, which Paul warned the Thessalonian church about.  A day of judgment is coming—what will be your answer when you face Jesus?  That you refused His grace, or that you have been born again by the “blood of the Lamb that cleanseth us from all sin”?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test. (See Phil. 2:5-11)

“Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you,

I told you these things?

6 And now ye know what withholdeth

that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:

only he who now letteth

will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed,

whom the Lord shall consume

with the spirit of his mouth,

and shall destroy

with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him,

whose coming is after the working of Satan

with all power

and signs

and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness

in them that perish;

because they received not the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause

God shall send them strong delusion,

 that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God

for you,

brethren beloved of the Lord,

because God hath from the beginning

chosen you to salvation

through sanctification of the Spirit

and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel,

to the obtaining of the glory

of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Thessalonians 2:5-14

So, what’s your decision?  Will you respond to Jesus in salvation, trust, and obedience?  Like I said, it’s your choice, but choose wisely; as Paul says, there is a test coming! Don’t fall for the lies.

Amen and Amen!!!

Who Are You Traveling With??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #729

14 Friday May 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Armor of God, Believe IN Jesus, By Him We Live, Choices And Consequences, Dependence, Discernment, Encouragement, Father's Way!, Fighting With God's Weapons, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, God's provision, He Opens Blinded Eyes to SEE, If not now? When?, It's Your Choice, Jesus IN You!, Knowing GOD, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Light In The Dark, Listening To God, Living Right, Living TODAY!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #729  Who Are You Traveling With???

 

Traveling is great fun for me, of course I learned to enjoy it as a child when my father was in the Navy; because we were often away from family and friends, we traveled on our vacation times to see those family members and other friends!  I loved it, except for the challenges of three children in the back seat—me being among them—and all the creative ways our parents used to try and keep us occupied! One of my favorite things to watch for as we drove the roads of America were the “Burma Shave” signs—if you’re too young to know what those are just “google it”, as they say—and life is kind of like that!  On our journey through life, we must watch for the ‘signs’ and if we are believers in Jesus, HE will grant us all we need to follow HIM.

What I want us to consider today is the daily journey of life; we travel along in this life often oblivious to the real things going on around us!  There are spiritual battles going on all around us and we can miss what’s really going on; but God calls us to walk with HIM through this life and be available for HIS service in unexpected and unique encounters that we will miss if we aren’t tuned to to our Father God, and Lord Jesus via HIS Holy Spirit working within us.  I belong to JESUS and ought to live like it, for I have been blood-bought and redeemed!  What less could I do than give my all to Jesus?  Here are some portions of what Paul shared with the people of Greece when he visited there–paying attention.

“God that made the world

and all things therein,

seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,

dwelleth not in temples

made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped

with men’s hands,

as though he needed any thing,

seeing he giveth to all

life,

and breath,

and all things…

…. and hath determined the times

before appointed,

and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord,

 if haply they might feel after him,

and find him,

though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being…..”  Acts 17:28

Paul was telling the spiritually blind Grecians that “in him we live, and move, and have our being”, how can we who claim to belong to Jesus not realize our calling to order our steps and our lives in light of this truth—all the truth in HIS WORD!

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory

for ever. Amen.”  Romans 11:36

God also reminds us that we battle unseen forces all around us and we must put on HIS armor every day to be prepared.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong

 in the Lord,

 and in the power

of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand against

the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness

of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.”  Ephesians 6:10-12

On this journey we can choose with whom we will walk.  Are you choosing God, His Word and His way, or the world’s destructive lies?  It’s your choice—here’s some guiding scripture that I hope will speak to our hearts and lead our steps!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.”  John 10:10

“The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down

in green pastures:

he leadeth me

beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths

of righteousness

for his name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:1-3

And in closing:

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not

in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth

in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth

in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate

day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit

in his season;

 his leaf also

shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth

shall prosper.”  Psalm 1:1-3

And that kind of sums it up.  So, to repeat our title, “Who are YOU traveling with?”!  Won’t you join me in committing to seek HIS face and walk in HIS ways—and find rest and peace and truth!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.”  John 10:9

 

Amen and Amen!!!